New guinea impatiens plant named ‘Doimwirored’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Doimwirored’ characterized by its upright, broadly outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; semi-double dark red-colored flowers that are undulate and twisting; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOIMWIRORED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Doimwirored’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2015 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-1310, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-0121, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Doimwirored’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Doimwirored’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright, broadly outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double dark red-colored flowers that are undulate and         twisting.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are dark red in color         whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are         cherry red in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as vigorous as plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens are semi-double in form whereas         plants of the male parent selection are double in form.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are dark red in color         whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are         cherry red in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagdarre’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,777. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagdarre’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of ‘Duemagdarre’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens are semi-double in form whereas         plants of ‘Duemagdarre’ are double in form.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duewildrltpi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,746. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duewildrltpi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of ‘Duewildrltpi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as vigorous as plants of         ‘Duewildrltpi’.     -   3 Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flower than plants of         ‘Duewildrltpi’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are dark red in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duewildrltpi’ are blush white in         color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doimwirored’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doimwirored’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 15.25-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2017 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification:     -   -   Impatiens hawkeri ‘Doimwirored’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-1310, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-0121, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to broadly outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle             in overall shape; freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially developing at every node; moderately             vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 56 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 19 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 187A.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 178A and 177A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than N189A;             venation, distally, close to 145A to 145B and proximally,             close to 145A to 145B tinged with 181B. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 191A; venation, close to 53A             to 53B.         -   Petiole length.—About 1.75 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4.5 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 145A to 145B.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 53A to 53B tinged             with 181A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Semi-double rounded             axillary flowers that are undulate and twisting; freely             flowering habit, typically about six open flowers and flower             buds per lateral branch; flowers positioned above and beyond             the foliar plane; flowers typically face mostly upright to             outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about ten weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Ovoid; flower buds opening “rose-like”. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Petals, close to             54A; sepals, close to 146B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm by 5.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Six to ten per flower in             two whorls; twisting. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About             2.7 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Cordate; rounded. Base:             Cuneate to obtuse. Margin: Entire, slightly undulate.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 45B; venation, close to 45B; color             becoming closer to 54A with development. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 52C; venation, close             to 52C; color becoming closer to 55C with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             one modified into an elongated spur. Lateral sepal length:             About 9 mm. Lateral sepal width: About 6 mm. Lateral sepal             shape: Elongated deltoid. Lateral sepal apex: Cuspidate.             Lateral sepal base: Truncate. Lateral sepal margin: Entire.             Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Lateral sepal color, upper surface:             Close to 146B. Lateral sepal color, lower surface: Close to             146A. Spur length: About 4.5 cm. Spur diameter: At flower,             about 2.5 mm; at apex, about 1 mm. Spur texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Spur color: Close to 53B             to 53C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 30° to about 45° from vertical. Strength:             Strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy. Color: Close to 146A to 146B variably             tinged with close to 178A and 183A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther size: About 5 mm by 2 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 11D;             proximally, close to N57A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 10D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma             color: Close to 144A. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Doimwirored’ as illustrated and described. 